TRANSITIONS AND RELAXATIONS IN POLY(TRIFLUOROETHYLENE)

Transition behavior in poly(trifluoroethylene)(P3FE) was studied (1) by mechanical-relaxation measurements, dealing with the influence of crystallinity, molecular weight, cold drawing, and copolymerization with vinylidene fluoride, and (2) by dielectric-relaxation measurement at various frequencies up to 300 kHz. In P3FE, two transitions have been observed with peaks at 50°C (designated α) and −20°C (designated β) by mechanical-relaxation measurement at 35 Hz. It was found that the α-transition was related to micro-Brownian motion of main chain in the amorphous region, and the β-transition was related to local molecular motion in both the amorphous and crystalline regions. © 1979 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.